{ FOOTLOOSE}

on a “personal mobility device” in a Star
Trek episode (picture Mr. Spock getting
himself from the bridge of the Enterprise
to the transporter room), the Mando is
in fact the real deal.

Mando is a tier-one supplier for
global automotive brands like Hyundai/
KIA Motors, GM, Ford, BMW and
Volkswagen. It uses automotive technology for the motor, alternator, ECU
and regulators. The rear-wheel hub
motor is rated at 250 watts and the battery at 36 volts with 8.2 amp-hours of
capacity. Normally, a 250-watt drive is
pretty tame, but combined with 20-inch
wheels, it makes the response and
power interesting. Even with a rider over
200 pounds, the Footloose spends a
great deal of time at its maximum top
speed of 15 mph. Despite the fact that
you cannot add human power directly
to the wheels for added motivation, the
drive handles mild climbs and routine
headwinds with little complaint.

TRANSPORTER ROOM

Mando calls the display a “HumanMachine Interface,” or HMI. The HMIsupplies information from the ECU(computer) and the battery managementsystem, such as range, speed, batterylevel, calorie consumption, self-generat-ed power level and break-down alerts.

The Footloose will not operate without
the HMI, and the HMI is matched to the
bike. An HMI from a different Footloose
will not activate yours. This is a nice
theft-prevention device, and, additionally, there are few Mando-speci;c parts
used that would make little sense to
steal. The oversized suspension seatpost won’t ;t any regular bicycle. The
same goes for the stem and, at least,
the rear wheel. However, while you can
easily run a lock through the ;ve-spoke
cast wheels, but there is no way to lock
up the frame because there are no gaps
to run a lock through like a normal dou-ble-triangle bicycle frame has.

You power up the footloose witha button on the HMI. Then, using theselect and mode buttons, you maychoose between manual and automodes. Manual 1 is for low speed andhigh torque, while Manual 2 is for highspeed and low torque. Then you selecta pedal mode between Eco, Normaland Sporty. There is also a Health modethat gives the Footloose the accelera-tion of the Eco mode but makes it hardto pedal. You may also choose pedalingresistance settings between easy, medi-um and hard. Choose Eco performancemode with hard pedaling to use theleast battery power and maximize howmuch electric power you generate. Oryou can forget all of that and simply usethe throttle to ride the Footloose like ascooter.

Riding in throttle mode is effortless,
and you can enjoy the ride and the
sights while arriving fresh. Conversely,
Health mode is claimed to deliver
“Greater exercising effect than riding a
regular bicycle,” and it is de;nitely hard
work pedaling in Health mode.

You don’t actually have to mess with
the modes at all. The default setting
works ;ne. All of the settings apply
only when you are pedaling. Pedal and
the Footloose knows how hard you are
pedaling, and the bike responds. Pedal
lightly and it will run along at or near
top speed. Whatever you set the pedal
resistance at, it remains absolutely
consistent. It pedals the same uphill,
downhill or on the ;at. On a relatively

The kickstand is incredibly
light and trick, mounted to
the crankarm with the pedal,
but it is a little fussy to use
regularly.